Chris Dixon, a general partner and crypto founder at Andreessen Horowitz, appeared on CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ to discuss his new book ‘Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet.’ Dixon, an advocate for blockchain technology, explored concepts from his book, including the future role of blockchain in the internet and potential regulations for AI-generated content.

Blockchain Technology as the Future of the Internet

In the interview, Dixon elaborated on ideas from his book, expressing that the financial aspects of blockchain technology have been overly emphasized. While he acknowledges the significance of payments, DeFi, and Bitcoin, Dixon believes blockchain’s potential extends far beyond these uses. He views blockchain as a foundational technology for developing a variety of internet services, including games, social networks, and financial services.

Dixon also highlighted the approval of spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a positive development for the crypto industry. He sees acceptance by traditional investors as beneficial, reinforcing the idea that blockchain technology is integral to the future of the internet.

Government Regulation of AI Technology

Dixon expressed his excitement about AI technology, noting that his firm invests heavily in it. He stressed the importance of clear regulations due to the controversies surrounding AI. Concerns have risen over AI-generated deepfakes, such as scam videos featuring Michael Saylor’s image to promote Bitcoin scams and Anatoly Yakovenko’s likeness used for fake giveaways.

Dixon pointed out that blockchain technology could counteract AI-generated deepfake videos by creating an immutable audit trail to verify content provenance. However, he acknowledged that implementing this solution would be difficult without government action and enforcement by social networks.

Recently, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre urged the US Congress to address the issue of fake AI-generated images, following the circulation of sexually explicit AI-generated images of singer Taylor Swift on X (formerly Twitter). These images garnered millions of views and were eventually removed by the platform. The potential for blockchain technology to address such issues remains to be seen.